It can be difficult to know where to start when trying to find work or looking for a change of career, especially if you have few qualifications or little experience. While at times it may seem like an impossible task, there are ways for you to improve your employability prospects and make your CV more appealing to potential employers.

In today’s blog, we look at how adult skills learning can benefit you and focus on the qualifications needed to give you the best shot at finding a job…

How do I get a job with no experience or qualifications?

Getting your first job can be an incredibly difficult and frustrating process. We have all been there; you can’t get a job because you don’t have the experience, you can’t get experience because you don’t have a job. It’s even more difficult if you are leaving school without many qualifications to your name.

However, it is never too late to add to your skillset and get qualifications that make you more attractive to potential employers. To this end, it’s important to know what skills employers are looking for and how to prioritise your learning.

What are the top 5 skills employers are looking for?

Every job will have specific demands for what they want from a candidate, however there are certain transferable skills that almost every employer is looking for in an employee. 

The Top 5 Employability Skills:

1. Communication skills

The most important skill in any job role is being able to communicate effectively. This means you can provide information to colleagues and managers in a clear way, while still maintaining positive working relationships. Having good communication skills makes every task in the workplace easier. From teamwork, time management and health and safety, everyone works more efficiently if your communication skills are up to scratch.

If you need more evidence to showcase your ability to communicative effectively in a team, why not take our Developing Teamwork e-course? This online course will provide you with some of basic theory of working in a team, and provide you with an e-certificate to prove your skills to potential employers.

2. Digital skills

In almost every industry, having good digital skills and IT literacy is becoming more and more important. Even in sectors such as construction, new technology is always being introduced to make the work quicker, cheaper and safer. Displaying your digital skills shows your ability to adapt to new technologies and ways of working as your job evolves. If you are looking to develop your computer literacy, ESS provide an NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Digital Skills for Work. This course is available to all learners of all skills levels and covers topics such as how to use basic word processing, communication via technology, and how to remain safe online.

3. Time management

Time management is not just about turning up to work on time, although that is of course important. Time management is about your ability to complete tasks on time and to prioritise your workload to meet deadlines. Being able to adjust your schedule to meet internal or external deadlines is of huge importance in any industry.

If you need help in finding processes to keep on top of your work, our Time Management e-course may be of use to you. The online courses introduces various tools and techniques you can use to help you manage your workload and meet deadlines.

4. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is essentially your ability to think on your feet when new situations occur. Being able to use your initiative to problem solve on the job is important in any workplace. Having confidence in your understanding of your job role will help you achieve this. Your critical thinking will improve the longer you have been in the role and experienced more situations at work.

Many of these skills can be developed through our NOCN Level 1 Certificate in Employability course. This training provides you with many of the transferable skills which help you prepare for employment through practical and theoretical learning. 

5. Strong work ethic

It goes without saying the employers want to hire people who work hard. To display this, you need to show potential employers that you are enthusiastic, eager to learn and take pride in your work. This is not just about writing "I work hard" on your CV, but about demonstrating your track-record of hard work and presenting a positive image of yourself through body-language and your personality.

How do I show that I have these skills?

Being able to demonstrate you have these skills is integral to being successful in the job application process. The best way of showing this is by having the correct certification through completing an adult training course.

If you don’t have much experience of working, try using examples from other aspects of your life. Do you have hobbies that display the five key skills highlighted earlier? For example, being part of a sports team can help you prove your communication skills and strong work ethic.

However, if you are struggling to demonstrate these skills then the best way to improve your chances of employment may be to pursue adult skills learning…

Adult Skills courses with ESS

At Essential Site Skills, we have established firm links with job centres in order to help find training for those looking to improve their skillset. Our trainers have direct communication with the National Careers Service in order to gauge interest in the range of courses we provide for those seeking employment.

If you are looking for adult skills training, speaking directly to ESS or to a job centre can help to find you the training you need. Some of the training we provide is also completely free to certain learners. This is because we utilise a scheme called the Adult Education Budget (AEB), which the government funds to support adults in finding employment. 

The ESS expert on Adult Skills division is Ryan Cancellara, who oversees a lot of our delivery in this area. He uses accredited courses to up-skill learners on benefits and low incomes in order to help them move into work or secure a higher paid role. Utilising his past experience, Ryan supports learners through to interviews and potential job opportunities upon the completion of the adult skills courses.

ESS provide a wide range of adult learning courses to help you take that first step to employment. We offer BTEC and NCFE qualifications in many areas including business administration, health and social care and customer service. 

How do I create a CV?

There are an endless number of websites that can provide CV templates and examples to give you tips and guidance to creating a CV for yourself. The National Careers Service, which is run by the government, provides helpful, free advice on building a CV.

However, the best way to get help if you are struggling is always to speak to a careers advisor face-to-face. They will be able to help you identify your unique skill set and tailor advice specific for your circumstance. You can find your nearest job centre on the government website and find the help you need.

How do I get started in the construction industry?

Construction is one of the most popular occupations for people who want earn a living straight out of education. It is also an occupation which is accommodating to newcomers, giving them a chance to work their way up the ladder and progress their career. At ESS, we specialise in getting learners the qualifications they need for a variety of jobs roles on constructions sites.

In terms of qualifications, the best entry point for getting into construction is by completing our NOCN Level 1 Health and safety in construction. The course covers many of the transferable skills which improve your chances of finding labourer jobs, allowing you to work your way up the through the construction industry. This 5-day course guides learners through:

• Health, safety and welfare in construction
• Working in a team to move and handle resources
• Working towards goals
• Working as part of a group

Completing this course will provide learners with a BTEC Level 1 Certificate, and allow them to apply for a CSCS Labourer card. To find out more about this process, and which courses are available to get the necessary qualifications, you can read our CSCS Green Card blog.

Still unsure of what is best for you?

If you still you don’t know which training options are right for your situation and need further advice, why not speak to a member of our team? You can call our training team on 0115 897 0529 or email us at [email protected]. You can also speak to someone at your local job centre to help find a job and update your CV.